Hanger bar for outlet boxes



y 1,615,329 Jan 25 1927 v. T. JENNINGs HANGER BAR FOR OU'IMS'Ly BOXES Filed Au ust 22 27 26 zf/i 79 wwf ffm/z @y 0%@ Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES VALERIUS T. JENNINGS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HANGER BAR FOR OUTLET BOXES.

Application led August 22, 1925. Serial No. 51,756.

This invention relates to hangers for outlet boxes and articles of similar nature, and among its objects are economy in the production thereof, simplicity, ease of assemblage, strength and durability. With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of a hanger for outlet boxes and the like, having a channel shaped hanger bar made of light weight material, upon which the box is adjustably secured by a metal yoke member that extends across the bar and is secured to the box by screws or otherwise. It further consists in a hanger having a carrier head or fixture stud formed F with a shouldered part that rests upon the top of the box and enters the channel of the hanger bar, whereby the carrier head or fixture stud is supported and held against rotation in the box. The invention further consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed. The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig l is a plan of a hanger for outlet boxes embodying a simple form of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view looking at the underside of the device; Fig. 3 is a detail, central, longitudinal section of the device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a detail cross section of the device, taken on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the carrier head or fixture stud detached from the remainder of the device.

Referring to Said drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention applied to a ceiling outlet box, the reference character designates the hanger bar of the device, which in accordance with the present form of the invention is channel shaped and preferably formed from a light gauge metal strip bent up or otherwise shaped up into a channel shape. The hanger bar is usually made of a length sufficient to extend between two adjacent joists of a iioor and is provided with nail or screw holes 11, adjacent its ends, through which nails or screws may be inserted, whereby it may be readily secured to and supported by floor joists or any other suitable supports.

The outlet box 12 is of the usual and well known type, having a top portion 13, formed with a marginal down turned ange 14, and with the usual knockout places 15,

which may be forced open to form the openings for the pipes or armored casings in which the conductor cords are usually contained. A centrally located hole 16 is formed in the top portion 13, and adjacent said hole, on diauictrically opposite sides thereof, screw holes 17 are formed, for the reception of clamping screws, as will appear later. Extending through the hole 16 is the carrier head or fixture stud 18, which is of novel form. Said carrier head is formed with a threaded stem portion 19, to which an electric light fixture may be attached in the usual manner, and, in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, above the threaded stem portion, the diameter of the carrier head is increased slightly, forming a head portion 20, which enables it to fairly fit in the hole 16, which as a preference is of the same diameter as the holes formed at the knockout7 places 15. The part 20 above the threaded stern portion 19, is formed on its upper side with an elongated lug 21, the ends 22 of which project beyond the opposite sides of the head part 2O and rest upon the top portion 13 of the outlet box and support the carrier head or fixture stud thereon. The channeled hanger bar 10 is preferably made narrower than the carrier head, and the width of the lug 21 may be made. to correspond with the width of the channel of said hanger bar and the height of the lug 21, above the top of the head part 20, is practically the same as the height of the channel, whereby the lug may be wholly contained in said channel. The stein 19 of the carrier head is inserted downwards through the hole 16 in assembling the parts, and when the projecting end portions Q2 of the lug 21, rest upon the top portion 18 of the outlet box, the top faces 23 of the head part 2O are then substantially flush with the top face of the outlet box. The shape. of the carrier head is one that enables the carrier head tol be easily and cheaply made on a screw machine, or other suitable alitomatic machine.

Extending across the hanger bar and carrier head is a yoke member 211, preferably struck up from a metal strip of suitable dimensions to form the central offset part 25. which extends over and down along the side edges of the hanger bar 10. Beyond the offset portion 25 are end portions 26, which ico are drilled and tapped at places coinciding with the screw holes 17, for thel reception ot screws 2T.

In the assembled hanger, the carrier head 18, extends through the central hole 16 in the outlet box l2 and the projecting end portions Q2 of its ing Qi rest upon the top Ytace of the box. rl'he hanger bar l0 extends diainetrically over the top face of the outlet box and the lower edges ot its iianges engage therewith. The lug 2l ot the carrier head 1S is contained in the channel of the hanger bar lO.y and is kept troni turning thereinA` by reason ot the engagement oi the 'sides oi' the lug with the contiguous inner sit ot the tianges ot the hanger bar. The yoke ineinber Q-i extends across the hanger bar l and when the screws 2T have been screwed up tight the oiiset part Q ot the yoke ineniber is clamped tightly upon the hanger bar, thereby clamping it down tightly against the top face ot the outlet box.

rihe parts are easily assembled by inserting the stein of the carrier head through the central hole in the top portion of the outlet box,y placing the yoke ineinber thereoyer, and inserting the screws through the screw holes in the outlet box and yoke nieniber. The hanger bar inay now be slipped between the lug ot the carrier head and ottset portion ot the yoke ineniben and the outlet box adjusted to any desired position thereon, aitter which the screws 27 niay be tightened up thereby securely clamping thc parts together.

Yrlhile the invention has been shown and described in connection with a ceiling` outlet box, it is to be understood that it is applicable to other Yiornis and types ot outlet boxes and articles et siniilar nature, and that the terni outlet box wherever used in the speciiications or claiins is intended to include all analogous articles.

More or less Variation oit the exact details ot construction is possible without departing 'from the spirit ot this invention; I desire. therefore, not to limit myself to the exact torni of the construction shown and described7 but intend7 in the following clainis, to point out ail ot the invention disclosed herein.

claiin as new, and desire to secure by Letters Fatent:

l. A hanger for outlet boxes. con'iprising in combination.y a channel shaped hanger bar, an outlet box having a top portion tlat in its entirety and having a hole in its iiat top portion, a single piece carrier head extending through said hote. and haring a threaded stein portion there below and a narrow, elongated laterally projecting? bar engaging lug located above the. tiat top portion oi the outlet box and adapted to rest thereon andl to enter the channel ot the hanger bar7 whereby the carrier head is directly supported on and held against rotation relative to said outlet box, a removable and replaceabie yoke nienlber extending across said hanger bar. and ineans between said outlet box and yoke nieinber for clamping the lyoke n'ieniber down upon the hanger bar and therewith clamping the hanger bar down upon the outiet box.

A hanger tor outlet boxes, comprising in co1nbination a. channel shaped hanger bar, an outlet box having a top portion tlat in its entirety and haring a centrallyv locati 'l hole in its tlat top portion, a carrier head comprising a threaded stein portion adapted or engagement with a light tixture` a head portion above said stein portion ot greater diameter than the stein portion and adapted to engage in said hole in the top portion o' the outletbox and a narrow rug on said head portion having projeetinnend portions adapted to bear against said top portion ot the outlet box and enter the channel ot said channel shaped hanger bar and a yoke ineinber arranged to be secured to the top portion ot said outlet box with the hanger bar clamped between said top portion ot the outlet box and yoke nien'iber.

VALERIUS T. JENNINGS. 

